Gayther Lab
Research in the Gayther Laboratory focuses on four areas:
- Identification of genetic variants that confer susceptibility to hormonal cancers, particularly ovarian cancer, using next-generation sequencing and genotyping technologies.
- Relating germ-line genetic variation to functional targets throughout the human genome—specifically, epigenetic and regulatory profiles enriched in the noncoding genome and the susceptibility genes that drive cancer development.
- Cell biology modeling of cancer to establish functional mechanisms underlying cancer initiation and development.
- Clinical translation of this research program—specifically, establishing a genetic basis for risk prediction and prevention of cancer and identifying novel clinical biomarkers associated with early-stage pathogenesis of disease.
The Gayther Laboratory is affiliated with the Cedars-Sinai Center for Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics and Department of Biomedical Sciences.
Personal Statement
I am a professor and director of molecular epidemiology at Cedars-Sinai. My research program is focused largely on understanding the underlying causes of ovarian cancer initiation and development. I have a long, established track record in defining the heritable component of ovarian cancer, and the functional role of both common and rare risk variants and their target susceptibility genes in the early-stage disease pathogenesis. The overall approach of this research program is to integrate genomics and epigenomics analyses to identify molecular markers associated with disease, with cell biology modeling studies to validate the role of novel molecular markers in disease biology. The goal is to translate the findings from these studies into the clinical arena to improve risk prediction and prevention strategies, early-stage screening and disease diagnosis and targeted therapeutics for patients.
Simon Gayther, PhD
- Cell Biology and Molecular Carcinogenesis Working Group
- Genetic Epidemiology and Variant Discovery Working Group
- Understanding How Ovarian Cancer Risk Loci Increase Disease Risk
- Identifying How Ovarian Cancer Risk Loci Affect Disease Biology
- Mapping Novel Variants for Ovarian Cancer
- Functional Genomics and GWAS Working Group
- Identification of Functional Variants in Ovarian GWAS Regions
- Identifying Candidate Susceptibility Genes Associated with Prostate, Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk Loci
Internal Collaborations
Meet Our Team
Learn more about the scientists, faculty members, investigators and other healthcare professionals of the Gayther Laboratory, whose dedicated efforts lead to groundbreaking discoveries.
Manek R, Pakzamir E, Mhawech-Fauceglia P, Pejovic T, Sowter H, Gayther SA, Lawrenson K.
Oncogenesis. 2016 Aug;5(8):e251.
Adler EK, Mhawech-Fauceglia P, Gayther SA, Lawrenson, K.
Hum Pathol. 2015 Jul;46(7):948-956.
Lawrenson K, Lee N, Torres HA, Lee JM, Brueggmann D, Rao N, Noushmehr H, Gayther SA.
Gynecol Oncol. 2014 Oct;135(1):100-107.
Contact the Gayther Lab
8700 Beverly Blvd.
Steven Spielberg Building, Room 155
Los Angeles, CA 90048